IIt’s on its 32nde editing. Every year, as summer begins, the Villeneuve-sur-Lot Laughter Festival (47) takes over the Georges-Leygues theater for five days. Five days dedicated to comedy shows in all forms, offering both known and almost unknown comedians on stage.
The adventure began in 1991, at the initiative of a neighborhood association, Saint-Roch-Saint-Fiacre, used to organizing traditional festivals. That summer, Saint-Roch-Saint-Fiacre had fun by inviting Anne Roumanoff and Chantal Gallia to perform for an evening. The success was immediate and the idea of creating a comedy festival was born, with the ambition of bringing out the younger generation.
Springboard
From the first edition in 1992, the Festival of Laughter launched a springboard in the form of a competition. Each candidate has around twenty minutes to convince a jury of professionals, made up of theater directors, café theaters, festivals and journalists. There are six of them in the running, spotted several months earlier by members of the Saint-Roch-Saint-Fiacre association, during their wanderings in Paris, Lyon or Avignon. And to ensure that these young stars have an audience to applaud them and laugh, the Festival is programming a big name of the genre to follow them.
Kevin Clement
The Waly Dia show, scheduled for Saturday June 28, is already sold out.
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Vincent Seroussi, who won the Prix de la Ville last year, will open the ban
In more than thirty years of award ceremonies, the Festival of Laughter has often hit the mark, discovering the pair Éric and Ramzy, Bruno Salomone, Stéphane Guillon, Christophe Alévêque, Guillaume Meurice, Bérangère Krief, Camille Chamoux, Baptiste Lecaplain or Gérémy Crédeville.
Talent scout
Many of them have also returned to the stages of Georges-Leygues, starring and even as president of the jury. Because going through the Villeneuve-sur-Lot Laughter Festival is not to be forgotten for many reasons. The team of volunteers, on deck for a week, personally accompanies candidates, who often, accustomed to café-theaters or comedy clubs, experience their first professional scene at the festival. Which then acts as a business card because, for thirty years, the Laughter Festival has carved out a great reputation for discovering talent in the artistic world. Four prizes are awarded, which ensure that the winners will return, as stars, to the bastide the following year.
Thomas Laverneo
Laurie Peret practices lively musical humor.
Laurent Bossaert
Carlos Flinnroi won three awards in 2023
Thus, for the 2024 edition, Vincent Seroussi, who won the City Prize last year, will open the ban, followed the next day by Carlos Flinnroi who won three awards in 2023. Jean-Fi Janssens, president of the jury , will follow on Thursday June 27, the first day for the young comedians competition. Laurie Peret and Waly Dia will follow on Friday June 28 and Saturday June 29.
An eclectic program put on by the Saint-Roch-Saint-Fiacre association and its president Tony Feijoo to ensure a popular side to a festival anchored in a rural environment.
Villeneuve-sur-Lot (47). From Tuesday June 25 to Saturday June 29. €23 to €35. Complete Waly Dia show. https://rirevilleneuve.fr
